Reactivate Music

The Greek Composers’ Union was founded 91 years ago, aiming to support and showcase contemporary composers and give voice to up-and-coming artists. This year, the Union will celebrate its 90th birthday, delayed by one year due to the pandemic, with a rich two-day tribute to Iannis Xenakis on the occasion of the 100 years since his birth. Held in collaboration with Centre Iannis Xenakis, the tribute will also feature the work of Xenakis’ Modernist teacher Olivier Messiaen; works on Ancient Drama by historical members of the Greek Composers’ Union (D. Mitropoulos, A. Evangelatos, K. Paxinou, M. Hadjidakis, Th. Antoniou, G. Kouroupos, D. Dragatakis, M. Theodorakis, and G. Sisilianos), in cooperation with the City of Athens Choir; concerts highlighting the connection between contemporary art and musical tradition featuring top-class virtuosos; plus talks and an exhibition of the Union’s archives and publications, to name but a few. A celebration of contemporary music narrating the past and looking forward to the future through a presentation of 60 musical works, 46 of which will be premiered right here!

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6 June - Day I

 

Concert I // 20:00 - 21:00

SESSION: TRIBUTES

Iannis Xenakis - 100 years since his birth

Eonta (1963-1964), sextet for piano, 2 trumpets, and 3 trombones

Konstantinos Destounis piano

Psappha (1975) for a percussion soloist

Theodor Milkov percussion

Charisma (1971) for clarinet and cello

Yannis Samprovalakis clarinet

Dimitris Travlos cello

Palimpsest (1979) for an ensemble of eleven musicians

Hellenic Ensemble of Contemporary Music

Conductor Iakovos Konitopoulos

Opening remarks Antonios Antonopoulos, Joseph Papadatos  

 

Concert II // 21:15 - 22:15

SESSION: FUTURE

Mosaic Ι

Premiere of 20 three-minute chamber music works by Greek composers

Composers Kostas Agouridis, Michalis Archontidis, Andreas Argyrou, Maria Dagalaki, Spiros Deligiannopoulos, Vassilis Gotsis, Leonidas Kanaris, Michalis Kefalas, Evangelos Kokkoris, Fani Kossona, Serafim Ktenas, Constantine Lignos, Efi Markoulaki, Dimitris Minakakis, Alexandros Mouzas, Athina Pavlaki-Pirounia, Vangelis Symsiris, Michalis Travlos, Pavlos Ventouras, Yorgos Zervos 

Hellenic Ensemble of Contemporary Music

Conductor Phaedra Yannelou 

Opening remarks Joseph Papadatos  

 

Concert III // 22:30 - 23:30

SESSION: OSMOSIS

Melisma: Concert for traditional instruments and a musical ensemble

Premiere of 6 chamber music works by Greek composers 

Composers Irini Chatzithemeli, Nikos Drelas, George Hatzimichelakis, Maria Christina Krithara, Ilias Nikolaidis

Hellenic Ensemble of Contemporary Music

Conductor Miltos Logiadis

Soloists Panagiotis Zacharakis ney, Angelina Tkatcheva cimbel, Stratis Psaradelis Istanbul kemençe

Opening remarks Alexandros Charkiolakis

The Hellenic Ensemble of Contemporary Music is comprised by: Vangelis Stathopoulos flute, Yannis Tselikas oboe, Christina Pantelidou oboe, Angelos Politis, Yiannis Samprovalakis clarinet, Yiorgos Farougias bassoon, Christos Kaloudis horn, Yiannis Karambetsos, Panagiotis Balamos trumpet, George Krimperis trombone, Vangelis Karampas trombone, Andreas Kolpodinos trombone, Spyros Lambouras percussion, Konstantinos Destounis piano, Lilia Esipova harp, Brunhilda Evgenia Malo, Kostas Panagiotidis, Angela Yiannaki, Ilias Sdoukos viola, Lefki Kolovou, Dimitris Travlos cello, Nikos Tsoukalas double bass

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7 June - Day II

 

Concert IV // 20:00 - 21:00

SESSION: FUTURE

Mosaic II

Premiere of 20 chamber music works by Greek composers

Composers Christos Anastassiou, Michael Andritsopoulos, Antonios Antonopoulos, Vassilis Bakopoulos, Vassiliki Filippeou, Smaro Gregoriadou, Leontios Hadjileontiadis, Vassilis Kitsos, Athanasios Koumenteris, Giorgos Kyriakakis, Natalia Mavraki, Spiros Mazis, Michalis Messinis, Manos Panayiotakis, Kostas Pantelidis, Fivos Papadopoulos, George Sioras, Panagiotis Theodossiou, Iossif Valette, Athanasios Zervas

Hellenic Ensemble of Contemporary Music

Conductor Konstantinos Terzakis

Opening remarks Konstantinos Kakavelakis

 

Concert V // 21:15 - 22:15

SESSION: TRIBUTES

Olivier Messiaen - 30 years since his death

Quartet for the End of Time

Musicians

Andreas Papanikolaou violin, Kostas Tzekos clarinet, Angelos Liakakis cello, Titos Gouvelis piano

Opening remarks Giorgos Kouroupos

 

Concert VI // 22:30 - 23:30

SESSION: PAST

Music for Ancient Drama

Works by historic members of the Greek Composers’ Union

Th. Antoniou, The Suppliants, D. Dragatakis,  Antigone, A. Evangelatos, The Persians, G. Kouroupos, Lysistrata, D. Mitropoulos, Electra, K. Paxinou, Oedipus Rex, G. Sisilianos, Medea, M. Theodorakis, The Phoenician Women

Hellenic Ensemble of Contemporary Music

Conductor Iakovos Konitopoulos

Soloist Angeliki Kathariou mezzo soprano

With the participation of the City of Athens Choir

Conductor Stavros Beris

Opening remarks Joseph Papadatos

The concert is supported by the Culture, Sports, and Youth Organization of the City of Athens (OPANDA)

The Hellenic Ensemble of Contemporary Music is comprised by: Melina Makri, Giorgos Skrivanos flute, Yannis Tselikas oboe, Yiannis Samprovalakis clarinet, Stathis Mavrommatis saxophone, Christos Kaloudis horn, Yiannis Karambetsos, Panagiotis Balamos trumpet, George Krimperis trombone, Andreas Kolpodinos trombone, Panagiotis Ziavras, Panagiotis Koliavassilis, Theodor Milkov percussion, Angelina Tkatcheva cimbel, Michalis Sidiropoulos mandolin, Korina Vougiouka guitar, Vicky Stylianou piano, Stella Tsani violin, Lefki Kolovou cello, Giorgos Arnis, Christos Komissopoulos double bass